North Korea fires short-range ballistic missiles into East Sea: JCS

North Korea

Published: 22 Apr. 2024, 15:15 Updated: 22 Apr. 2024, 16:57

North Korea fires short-range ballistic missiles into East Sea: JCS

North Korea conducts a ″super-large warhead″ power test for a strategic cruise missile and a test-fire of a new anti-aircraft missile in the Yellow Sea on April 19 in this photo released by the Korean Central News Agency the following day. [YONHAP]

North Korea fired a number of short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced Monday afternoon.

The missiles were fired at 3:01 p.m. from Pyongyang and flew 300 kilometers (186.4 miles) before landing in the East Sea, according to the JCS.

"The military has strengthened surveillance and vigilance in preparation for additional launches and is maintaining full readiness by closely sharing information regarding North Korean ballistic missiles with the United States and Japanese authorities," said the JCS in a text message to reporters. "We strongly condemn North Korea’s missile launch as a clear provocation that seriously threatens the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula."

Monday's launch comes three days after Pyongyang launched cruise missiles into the Yellow Sea on Friday.

North Korea's Missile Administration tested a warhead designed for the "Hwasal-1 Ra-3" strategic cruise missile and test-launched its new anti-aircraft missile, the "Pyoljji-1-2," in the Yellow Sea, the state-run Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Saturday.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]